4.  The applicant was born in 1944 and lives in Vienna. The applicant is a lawyer by profession, who practised law in Vienna and Retz (Lower Austria).
5.  The first set of proceedings (D169/98) started on 14 July 1998, when Mr G., a partner in the law firm of Dr K., who served as President of the Vienna Bar Chamber from 1999 to 2002, lodged a disciplinary complaint against the applicant alleging that he had committed documentary fraud. Subsequently, on 23 July 1998, an Investigating Commissioner (Untersuchungskommissär) was appointed, who issued his report on 12 November 1999.
6.  On the basis of the Commissioner's report, the Disciplinary Council of the Vienna Bar Chamber (Disziplinarrat der Wiener Rechtsanwaltskammer) decided to open the main proceedings on 24 May 2000.
7.  On 2 June 2000 and on 18 September 2000 Mr G. lodged a further disciplinary complaint against the applicant alleging that he had obtained credit by fraud, and obstructed enforcement proceedings. On 30 November 2000 the Investigating Commissioner's terms of reference were extended to these two allegations. A new commissioner was appointed on 7 June 2002, who issued his report on 21 October 2002.
8.  Following the recommendations of this report, the Disciplinary Council of the Vienna Bar Chamber decided on 29 January 2003 that the allegations concerning obtaining credit by fraud and obstruction of enforcement proceedings were ill-founded.
9.  With regard to the Disciplinary Council's prior decision of 24 May 2000 to open proceedings against the applicant (see paragraph 6 above), a hearing was held on 14 November 2003.
10.  On 19 January 2004 the applicant ceased to practise law for health reasons. Subsequently, on 26 February 2004, the Disciplinary Council discontinued the proceedings, applying by analogy section 412 of the Austrian Criminal Procedure Act (Strafprozessordnung).
11.  The disciplinary proceedings D33/99, concerning enforcement proceedings against the applicant, started on 23 February 1999, when an Investigating Commissioner was appointed. On 20 October 1999 he issued his report, on the basis of which the Disciplinary Council decided to open main proceedings on 26 January 2000. On 28 June 2001 the applicant was summoned to an oral hearing scheduled for 8 September 2001. As he did not appear on that date, the hearing could not be held.
12.  On 8 August 2002 a new hearing was scheduled for 25 September 2002, also with regard to the proceedings D102/99, D165/00 and D15/01 (see below). On 19 August 2002 the applicant objected to the attendance of one of the members of the Disciplinary Council at the hearing, which therefore was adjourned. On 14 November 2003 the hearing was held. Following the applicant's resignation from exercising his profession also this set of disciplinary proceedings was discontinued by the Disciplinary Council on 26 February 2004.
13.  The proceedings D102/99, concerning alleged failures to perform professional duties in client relations, started on 12 May 1999 with the appointment of an Investigating Commissioner, who issued his report on 18 April 2001, after having heard witness evidence. Subsequently, on 30 May 2001, the Disciplinary Council decided to open the main proceedings. No further measures were taken until 8 August 2002 (see paragraph 12 above).
14.  On 8 August 2002 a hearing was scheduled for 25 September 2002, which, however, was postponed. On 14 November 2003 this hearing, which also concerned the proceedings D 33/99, D165/00 and D 15/01 was held. Following the applicant's resignation from exercising his profession also this set of disciplinary proceedings was discontinued by the Disciplinary Council on 26 February 2004.
15.  The proceedings D165/00, concerning enforcement proceedings against the applicant, started on 22 September 2000, when an Investigating Commissioner was appointed. On the basis of the Commissioner's report (issued on 27 February 2001) the Disciplinary Council decided to open the main proceedings on 25 April 2001. No further measures were taken until 8 August 2002 (see paragraph 12 above).
16.  On 8 August 2002 a hearing was scheduled for 25 September 2002, which, however, was postponed. On 14 November 2003 this hearing, which also concerned the proceedings D 33/99, D165/00 and D 15/01 was held. Following the applicant's resignation from exercising his profession also this set of disciplinary proceedings was discontinued by the Disciplinary Council on 26 February 2004.
17.  In the proceedings D15/01, concerning alleged failure to inform the Lawyer's Chamber of his change of business seat before the move, an Investigating Commissioner was appointed on 29 January 2001. On the basis of his report, issued on 20 February 2002, the Disciplinary Council decided to open the main proceedings on 17 April 2002. No further measures were taken until 8 August 2002 (see D33/99 above).
18.  On 8 August 2002 a hearing was scheduled for 25 September 2002, which, however, was postponed. On 14 November 2003 this hearing, which also concerned the proceedings D33/99, D165/00 and D15/01 was held. Following the applicant's resignation from exercising his profession also this set of disciplinary proceedings was discontinued by the Disciplinary Council on 26 February 2004.
19.  The proceedings D231/99, concerning enforcement proceedings against the applicant, started on 18 October 1999 with the appointment of an Investigating Commissioner. On the basis of his report (issued 13 January 2002), the Disciplinary Council decided to open the main proceedings on 20 February 2002. No further measures were taken until 3 March 2004, when the proceedings were discontinued following the applicant's resignation from exercising his profession.